Time-actuated releasing device.



.J. P. TONSOR.

TIME AQTUATBD RELEASING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1911.

1,004,827. H Patented Oct 3, 1911.

WITNESSES: 1i

sfll-UMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

time sr an onion.

JOHN P. TONSOR, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TOCHRISTIAN ORTHOLF, OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

TIME-ACTUATED BELEASING DEVICE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. ToNsoR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time- ActuatedReleasing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a time-actuated releasing device and isconstructed to be used in conjunction with a clock which can beregulated to operate at a predetermined time similar to an alarm clock,so that when the clock operates it releases a weight which haspreviouslybeen suspended in an inoperative position, this weight whenreleased operating any suitable mechanism such as the dampers or draftsof a furnace or heater, an electric switch for the regulation of lights,or in any one of the numerous cases where it can be employed to performa function at a stated time.

The device is adapted to be used in conjunction with an alarm clock or aclock similar to an alarm clock, the clock being removably attached to asuitable support, on which support is mounted the suspending device, theclock and the suspending device being adapted to cooperate when theclock is in place so that when the clock operates the suspending deviceis released and the weight drops by gravity and performs its function.

The invention is also designed to provide a means for manipulating thesuspending device when the clock is not in place.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichFigure 1 is a View of the releasing device with the clock removed. Fig.2 is a side view with the support of the clock in section, the clockbeing shown in place. Fig. 3 is a top view of the base portion with thereleasing device shown in elevation, the clock and the clock-supportingring being removed.

- The device consists of a base 10 to the front of which is attached aclock-supporting frame 11. Sliding through the clocksupporting frame andarranged vertically therein is a rod 12 at the end of which is arrangeda weight 13 which can be of any of the usual types of weight, and can beeither fixed or variable as to its weight. I show the weight made of acasing let with a removable bottom 15 whereby the casing can be suppliedas desired with material such as shot or the like to adjust the weighteven to a fine degree when this is necessary. To the top of the rod 12 Isecure a ring 16 which is in turn fastened to a strand 17 or to anyother suitable element which is connected to the device to be operatedby the weight, which latter device is not shown in the drawing. On therod 12 is a tooth 18, the tooth being beveled on its top edge andadapted to rest on its bottom edge on the pointed end of a latch 19which is beveled on its lower face so that when the rod is raised thetooth 18 and the beveled edge of the latch 19 will slip'past each otherto enable the tooth to be placed on top of the latch. The latch 19slides in ways 20 which are arranged on the face of the base 10, thelatch being normally thrown forward by means of a lever 21 pivoted at 22and having a slotted end 23 engaging the pin 24 on the latch, the lever21 being normally swung by the coil spring 25 having one end 26 bearingon the base and the other end 27 bearing 011 the lever. The lever issubstantially L- shaped and projects out through a slot 28 in theclock-supporting frame to present its end 29 so that it can bemanipulated by the hand if necessary.

The arm 30 of the lever 21, which provides the end 29 for themanipulation, is provided with a pin 31 which is engaged by the Windingkey 32 of a clock 33 when the clock is placed in the clock-supportingframe, the

. arrow at in Fig. 1 indicating the direction of rotation of the windingkey when it moves in the reverse direction after having been wound upand it is released by the usual mechanism within the clock. The clock isset within a recess 34: which has a stud 35 on the top whicheasilypasses under the curved end 36 of a spring 37 and goes through aperforation in this spring 37, the spring 37 being secured to theclock-supporting frame by suitable screws 38.

The clock is available for telling time because its face is arrangedoutward when it is placed in the supporting frame, and it can be easilyremoved by grasping the end 36 of the spring 37 and bending it upwardand pulling the clock forward from its place. The key 32 can be woundand the alarm or time-actuated device within the clock can be set, andthe alarm key 32 can be wound so that when it is actuated within theclock and released, it will rotate in the reverse direction and be in aposition to cooperate with the pin 31 to raise the arm 30 of the lever21, slide back the latch 19, release the tooth 18 and allow the weightto descend, pulling the rod 12 with it and operating whatever element itis connected with.

The arm 30 is preferably bent as at 39 to pass behind the rod 12 and hasa stud 40 thereon, which stud is adapted to be engaged by a tooth 41 onthe end of a finger 42, being pivoted at 43 to the base and having anose 44 thereon with a pin 45 which is placed so that when the rod 12 israised it is engaged by a pin 46 to raise it and swing the finger 42over to the position shown in F 1. Then the arm 30 is raised by thealarm key 32 and the rod 12 descends, the pin 46 releases the pin 45,the finger 42 has a tendency to swing to a vertical position, and thetooth 41 engages the stud 40 and the arm 30 is held in its raisedposition so that the pin 31 is out of the path of travel of the alarmkey 32, and the alternate raising and lowering of the arm 30 with theconsequent noise and clatter is avoided. It will be understood that thisrestraining device comprising the finger 42 with its end to engage thepin 40 can be dispensed with without affecting the operation of thereleasing device of the suspending means.

It will thus be seen that I have devised an easily transportablesuspending means for a weight, which weight is adapted to in turnoperate any desired device and provide the same with a clock thatcooperates to release the suspending means at astated time, the clockbeing easily detachable for winding and setting, and when in place beingavail-- able for telling the time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A timeactuatedreleasing device consisting of a base, a clock-supporting frame on theface of the base, a rod sliding ver 2 tically in the frame, a projectionon the rod by which it can be suspended, a weight on the rod, the rodhaving means for attaching it to an element to be operated by theweight, a latch sliding horizontally on the frame and engaging the rodto suspend! it in its raised position, a lever operatin by gravity toslide the latch to its looks position, a clock having an alarm keyadapted to be wound in one direction and arranged to rotate in thereverse direction when released by the clock mechanism, means fordetachably securing the clock to the frame with its alarm key within theframe, and a pin on the lever adapted to be engaged by the alarm keywhen the alarm key rotates in the reverse direction, this operation ofthe lever releasing the latch to permit the rod to be actuated by itsweight.

2. A time-actuated releasing device comprising a base, a frame on theface of the base, a rod sliding vertically in the frame, a weight on therod, a tooth on the rod, ways on the frame, a latch sliding in the ways,a lever engaging the latch, means for operating the lever tonormallyforce the latch to its closed position to engage the tooth, a clockhaving an alarm key projecting from the back thereof, the clock when inplace having its alarm key in position to co operate with the lever formoving the latch to release the rod, and means for detachably securingthe clock in the frame.

3. A timeactuated releasing device com- ;prising a base, a frame on theface of the base, a rod sliding in the frame, a tooth on the rod, wayson the frame, a latch sliding in the ways, an L-shaped lever in theframe 3 having one end projecting for its manipulaition and having itsother end engaging the latch to slide it, a spring for normally holdingthe latch shut, and a clock detachably 1 secured on the face of theframe and having 3 an alarm key to cooperate with the lever to releasethe latch, the alarm key being placed jin position when the clock isplaced in the frame.

4. A time-actuated releasing device comprising a base, a frame on theface of the tbase, a rod sliding in the frame, a tooth on the rod, wayson the frame, a latch sliding in the ways, an L-shaped lever in theframe lhaving one end projecting for its manipu- ;lation and having itsother end engaging the latch to slide it, a spring for normally holdingthe latch shut, a clock detachably secured on the face of the frame andhaving an alarm key to cooperate with the lever to release the latch,the alarm key being placed ;in position when the clock is placed in theframe, means for locking the latch out of gits normal posltion when thelever is operated, and means for releasing said locking means of thelever when the rod is raised.

5. A time-actuated releasing device comprising a suitable support, a r dsliding in the support having its end projecting from .the top andbottom, a weight on the rod, a SUSPBDCllDg means within the support, the

support having an opening in its face providin access to the suspendingmeans, and

a cloc detachably secured. in the opening in the face of the support toclose the opening and conceal the suspending device,the clock ,havingtime-actuating means projecting from the back and Within the support foroperating the suspending device.

6. A time-actuated releasing device comprising a frame, a rod slidingvertically in the frame, the rod being Weighted, Ways on the frame, alatch sliding in the Ways, a tooth on the rod adapted to be rested onthe latch to suspend the rod, an L-shaped lever in the frame having itsinner end engaging the latch to slide it and having its outer endprojecting from the frame for its manual manipulation, its outer endalso providing a Weight to cause by its ovvn Weight the sliding of thelatch to its locking position,

a clock, and means for detachably securing the clock on the frame, theclock having an alarm key to cooperate With the lever to 1:1 raise thelever to open the latch.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my handthis 27th day of April, 1911.

JOHN P. TONSOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

